Shoe-lacing device



Jan. 29, 1924. 1,481,903

w. J. HART SHOE LAGING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1925 gwmmtoc wwwa/wi:

Patented Jan. 22, i224.

unirse srarss PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. HART, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH 'IO ALONZO IFI. BANG-BORN AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANCES D. PANGBORN, BOTH OF S'I. JOSEPH,

MICHIGAN.

S-IOE-LCIN G DEVICE.

Application filed April 9,

To @ZZ ywlw-m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VViLLIAM J. HART, a citizen ofthe United States, residingat St. Joseph, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iirShoe-Lacing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for simplifying the lacing of shoes and by means of which the lacing is accomplished with greatest ease and without the necessity of tying the laces.

The object of the invention is to furnish the shoe with rollers instead of the usual eyelets through which the laces run, and on account of the diminished friction in drawing the lace tight, the shoe can be'put on in a much shorter time than it usually takes.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a clasp for holding the lace tight instead of tying the same. Y

In the accompanying drawing, the subject matter of the present invention has been illustrated, and;

Figure 1 shows a shoe with the device in position;

Figure`2 is a side elevation inV partialsection of the roller; f

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2;

Figure f1 is a longitudinal section through the lace clasp in open position;

Figure 5' is a similar View to Figure 4 with the lace tightened and held securely bythe clasp; and

Figure 6, is a view similar to Figure 2 of a slightly modified form of the roller and bracket. v j j In place of the usual eyelets furnished in shoes, I provide small brackets 10,v each carrying a grooved roller 11 securedv at the edge 12 of the shoe 13 by means of fingers 9. The roller ll'is journaledon a pivot with trunnions 14, see Figures 2 and 3. A suiiicient number yof these brackets and rollers is furnished along the edges of the upper of the shoe, as seenl in Figure 1.

The lace 15 is preferably secured at theV lower end over the tongue of the shoe as at 16 in a pair of eyelets of the usual kind, but from there the lace passes alternately through a right and left hand bracket over its roller, and it will be evident that after 1923. serial No. 630,927.

the foot has been pushed into the shoe, it will be comparatively easy to draw the lace upwards to close the two'side edges 12 over the tongue, as indicated in Figure V1.

n Instead of the construction illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, it might at times be preferable to use a bracket 17, as indicated in Figure 6. Instead of bracket 10 being open on three sides, this bracket 17 is closed on the front and rear and. only. open on the two opposite sides through which the lace passes. The rivet 18 in this case functions as a journal for the roller 19, while `the bracket 17 has a tail 2O for securing it to the leather by means ofv a short rivet 21. Referring now particularly to Figures 4L and 5, these show the construction of the clasp or securing means for the lace after it has been tightened.` Thisy clasp consists of a casing 22, which is hollow and may be made in symmetrical halves, rwhich may be riveted together as at 23. In the chamber 211 formed in the casing 22 are pivoted as at 25 a pair of dogs 26. These dogs are pressed outwardly by means of a spring 27 rigidly secured in the chamber 24. This journal 25 is carried bya push button 28, which is slidably mounted at the lower end of the casing 22 and projects with a small head 29 .through the bottom ofthe casing. The button 28 is providedwith two annular grooves30 and 31 situated one above the other and placed slightly apart. In the corresponding groove 32 furnished in the casing 22 is lodged a split ring or oval spring 33, which fits tightly in one of the grooves 30 or 31, so as to hold the buttonk 28 either in drawn out or pushed in position. The annular groove 32 in the casing is of sutiicient depth to permit the opening and closing of the spring when the button 28'has sages 35, Vand passing through the chamber 24. These passages are intended to receive the ends of the lace l5, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, and tle passages are s o positioned that when the button :28 is pushed inwards, the springs 2? will spread the dogs 26 apart to abut against the part of the lace l5 that is situated in the chamber 24 and in this manner engage it tightly and prevent their sliding down through the casing again. y

The clasp or clamp 2Q, may be secured to one side ot the shoe top or may he entrrely loose therefrom, and it may be made in many diil'erent shapes and constitute an ornament for the shoe.

The use of the device is as 'liollowsz lilith the lace loosened and the shoe open, the wearer pushes his toot into the shoe in the usual manner and draws the lace upwards, when it will slip easily over the rollers and quickly draw the edges ot the top of the shoe together. Each end ot the lace is then passed through its l ective passage 235 in the clamp or clasp 22, with the button 25 previously*drawn out so that the race ends pass easily through the casing'. While holding the lace ends drawn up tightly, the button 28 is thereupon pushed inwards in the casing, when the dogs 26 will snr-.p outwardly and grip the lace and hold it securely in the casing. The ends of the lace niav now be left hanging` or tied in loose lmet, but itis evident that this knot nothing to do with keeping the lace taut and the is only made to prevent the ends o the lace from dragging` and to malte the shoe look tidy.

It is evident that this clasp or clamp may be used without the rollers and their brackets on shoes having ordinary eyelets, or it may be used for other articles having laces or tape that needs secui ln order to re move the shoe, all tba is necessari.' is to draw the button 28 ontwards, when the 26 will release the ends ot' the lace lo, which will then slide downwardly through the pas sages 35, and as the lace will slip easily over the rollers li, it is evident that opening ot the tops ot the shoe will be accomplished without great effort.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A device for lacing shoes and the like comprising guides tor thelace along the edges to be drawn together, and means ttor firmly holding the ends of the lace atteitightening; said means including` casing having a chamber and passages for the lace ruiming through said chamber, a sliding member in said casing, a pair of dogs pivoted on said sliding member and tending to grip the lace, and a locking eiement for said sliding member.

2. li device for lacing shoes and the like comprising` guide rollers for the lace, said rollers being placed at a suitable distance apart along the edges to be drawn together, and means for iirmly holding thc ends oi the lace after tightening; said means including a casing having a chamber and passages ior the lace ruiming through said chamber, a sliding button in said casing, dogs pivoted on said button, a spring tending to press the dogs to hold the lace, and an element in said casing engaging with said button to hold it selectively in dii'l'ercnt positions` 3. A device for lacing shoes aiul the like comprising guide rollers for the lace, said rollers being` placed at a suitable distance apart along the edges to be drawn together. and means for firmly holding the ends oif the lace after tightening; .iid in sans including a casing having a chamber and passages for the lace ruiming through said. chamber, a sliding button in said casing, dogs pivoted on said button, a spring tending to press the dogs to hold the lace, and an element in said casing associated with said button to hold it selectively in different positions, said dogs being adapted to abut against the walls ot' the casing to disengage them Yfrom said lace when the button is situated in one ot said positions.

l. A lace securing device comprising a casing having a chamber and passages for the lace running through said chamber, a

sliding member in said casing, a pair otl dogs pivoted on said sliding member and tendingto grip the lace, and a locking` element for said sliding member.

5. A lace securing device comprisin :i

0 casing having a chamber and passage Vntor the lace running through said chamber, a. sliding button in said casing, a pair-oit dogs pivoted on said button and tending to grip the lace, and an element in said cas-ing en gaging with said button 'to hold it selectively in different positions. A

6. A lace securing device comprising a casing having a chamberv and passages ior the lace ruiming through said chamber, a

sliding button in said casing, a pair of dogs pivoted on said button and tending` to grip. the lace, and an element in said casing associated with said button to hold it selectively in ditferent positions, said dogs being adapted to abut against the walls ot' the chamber to disengage them from said lace when the button is situated in one of said positions. s

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

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